** UPDATE** Farewell to a giant of the sea
The family of Graham (Scooter) Eaton invite club members and close friends to a celebration of his wonderful life, please RSVP via the link.
https://www.paperlesspost.com/go/ebbo383s7Vb5wNSeNoNpL
The Coast’s sailing community is in deep mourning after the death of Graham Eaton on the weekend when his boat crashed near a bridge on the Mooloolah River at Mooloolaba.
Known as Scooter by Australia’s sailing community, Mr Eaton was one of the Coast’s most high-profile offshore racing yachtsman.
Long-time sailing companion Mark Arrowsmith said of his best friend, “Scooter was larger-than-life in the sailing world and even larger as a mate. I’ve known him for many years and his beautiful family from the start, and will miss him forever.”
His death is being felt well beyond Mooloolaba with tributes for the admired and respected sailor being voiced by sailing luminaries and everyday sailors from across Australia.
“Sail in peace mate. Sailed together, worked together, lived in the same house, ate together, drank together, and laughed together so much. Really sad”, George Canfield wrote on Facebook. “Sail on Scooter. One of the best,” former International Sailing vice president David Kellett added.
Mr Eaton’s life-long passion for boating found him racing with some of the best big-boat skippers in Australia before he made the ultimate plunge into that world with the purchase of the classic 27-metre yacht Bumblebee 4. He took to the job of restoring the vessel with all his boat-building talents being called upon. Once back to pristine condition Mr Eaton then widely campaigned Bumblebee 4 often filling it with friends and family.
He was hands-on within the Coast sailing community contributing to the Mooloolaba Yacht Club on the land as well as regularly showing his race winning prowess with the club’s offshore and river races calmly calling tactics for his skippers or on the hand of the helm.
MYC vice commodore Kerri Smith said Mr Eaton had been a long-standing club member and former board member.
“During his career, his company worked on many famous vessels including the repairs to Jessica Watson’s Ella’s Pink Lady after its collision with a bulk carrier before her world circumnavigation,” she said.
“Our club members are devastated by this terrible accident. Scooter was one of our sailing greats and just a lovely man who will be sadly missed by all. Our hearts and sincere condolences go out to Scooter’s wife and all his family.”
While boats were his passion, his heart belonged with his family – his wife and sailing soulmate Bethan, and his three children. They always bought a broad smile to his weathered face. He could talk for hours about the pride in which he held each of them.
The details of his memorial service are yet to published.
Mooloolaba Yacht Club